Analysis of geotextile tube behaviour by large-scale field model tests

This paper presents the geotechnical behaviour of geotextile tubes based on the results of two field model tests. The tests were performed on two types of dredged material (sand and silty clay) at the Songdo land reclamation site in the Bay of Incheon, Republic of Korea. The dredged materials were hydraulically pumped into the geotextile tubes by dredging ship. The shape variations of geotextile tubes with the two different dredged materials are also presented. The field test results show that, when dredged sand is pumped in to fill the geotextile tube, the tube drops about 40% in height within 2 days after completion of drainage. By contrast, if the clayey filling material is used, after drainage the height of the geotextile tube reduces by approximately 50% within a month.